Tag: rink street wellness club

As I’m sitting here in my cold little house I keep noticing that my mind is taking me back to warmer places like Thailand and Zanzibar. Why those specifically? Well because a whole bunch of our Herbalifers have just returned from a wonderful Herbalife-sponsored holiday in Zanzibar, and because myself and my husband celebrated his 40th in Thailand last month. There’s been a lot of travel happening around the Larter household lately and so my mind keeps wandering back to the memories of warmth. It’s only natural, right?

Every time we have a journey like this either ahead of us or just behind us, I cannot help but find myself exceptionally grateful for the fact that we are a Herbalife family.

While travelling can be one of the most rewarding experiences for just about anyone, it can also be an incredibly taxing undertaking. Sitting on a plane for hours on end can take a serious toll. You retain water, get stiff and feel terrible. Plane food (in coach at least!) can be awful. Your digestion can be upset a little. Constipation. Dehydration. Personally I find it a little trying to keep to a good health schedule as soon as I am removed from the comforts of my daily life.

Luckily for us, we have Herbalife to help counterbalance all of that and make travelling as simple as possible. Today I thought I’d share a couple of my must-have travelling products with you. Because if you’re planning a trip (which I sadly am currently not) then you definitely need to include some of these products on your packing list.

Formula One Protein Shake:Holidays may be about binge eating and experiencing all sorts of new culinary delights, but even my excessive food consumption skills get a little bit tired from throwing too much caution to the wind. Having a shake with me means that I can whip up a quick and easy meal at any time of the day should the need arise. Shakes help to keep my energy levels up for all that crazy sightseeing – which is super necessary!

Herbalife Formula One Shake Bars:An even easier way to keep healthy while on the go is to have a couple of these in my purse while we indulge in our adventures. They make a great snack for between meals and can even be considered as a meal on their own.

LiftOff:As someone who doesn’t “party” often I can assure you that I need all the help I can get when it comes to pulling off a long night of cocktails and dancing. Add a day full of sunshine before a night on the town? Well then I’m just finished! Thankfully LiftOff exists to keep me sane and awake!

Thermojetics Herbal Tea & NRG: Energy. Very important! These “teas” keep me alert and focused while also helping me achieve sustained energy levels. I also find them particularly “necessary” when I’m in a space (like planes and Thailand!) where the coffee is just not great. These two keep my caffeine cravings at bay and help to ease that emotional attachment that I have for my morning cuppa joe.

Hydrate & CR7:These might be my all time favourite product in the Herbalife range. Keeping hydrated while travelling has always been a massive challenge for me. At home I am surrounded by my comforts, but away from home it becomes harder for me to keep my water intake up. Luckily Hydrate and CR7 help a lot, especially in hot countries like Thailand! Using a sachet/serving per day makes a massive difference.

Roseguard:Got to give my body the best chance of staying as healthy as possible.

Fibre & Herb:Let’s just say that constipation can ruin even the best holiday. Holiday food can be low in fibre. Best to help it along.

Aloe Body Gel & Aloe Body Lotion: Healing and hydrating. When you’re more likely to catch yourself a nice sunburn it helps to have something that to soothe your skin on hand. These products are absolutely fantastic in that they smell amazing, they’re cruelty free, and they feed and soothe that sun-kissed skin.

I don’t know what we would do without these wonderful products. They really do help us to get the absolute most out of our travelling experiences.

Your smoothie might taste just fine as it is, but if – like me – you’re in the habit of having them every day, it’s nice to change up the flavours to keep things interesting. Aside from changing the flavour of my actual shake powder (don’t forget we have many flavours for you to try: chocolate, cookies & cream, strawberry, cappuccino to name a few) and playing around with different fruit and vegetable add-ins what often takes my shakes over the top is the extra flavour boost I get from adding herbs, spices, extracts and other natural flavours.

Spices – try a dash of sweet cinnamon, nutmeg, allspice or clove, or add some spicy heat with ginger or even a dash of white pepper. Since they’re plant products, spices also contribute phytonutrients and antioxidants, too.

Herbs may not be something you’ve thought about adding to your smoothie, but there are plenty of herbs that work really well. Try mint, rosemary, thyme or basil – but don’t stop there! I know people who love fresh parsley or fresh cilantro in their smoothies, too.

Extracts and Zest – a little fresh lemon or orange zest adds a bright, fresh flavour to your smoothie, and there are some healthy oils in citrus peel, too. I also like to keep all kinds of extracts on hand – like pure vanilla, almond, coconut and peppermint for an extra flavour boost.

Some smoothie add-ins do double duty – they not only add flavour and nutrition, but also help with your digestive system.

Aloe vera juice adds a mild sweet flavour to your shake and helps support nutrient absorption in your digestive tract. (ask us about our Herbal Aloe beverage if you are not already taking it)

Yogurt contains probiotics – so-called “good” bacteria that help support digestive health. If you’re feeling extra adventurous you can also try amasi.

Ginger and Peppermint are both known to aid the digestive process.

Chia seeds are a very rich source of soluble fibre, which supports the growth of the good bacteria in your intestines.

Linseed is a gentle on the digestive system and also contain omega oils that are great for your brain, skin, and hair. But if you’re going to add linseed to your shake you might want to drink it up really quickly because if you let it stand for too long those seeds are going to get slimy!

You may have noticed that I’m a fan of yoga. I’m no guru, of course. Or, yogi, for that matter. I’m naturally bendy so that’s a plus but I’m not particularly strong so yoga tends to beat me often. The strength will improve as I keep it up. The thing is though, if there were no benefits to yoga other than the stress relief that I get from the practice, that would be enough. There are, however, numerous benefits to maintaining a regular yoga practice. The conscientious among us might notice even the smallest of benefits after each session. It is always good to take stock of how you are feeling before and after your practice, and keep these niggles in mind as inspiration to continue.

Here are just 3 great benefits to establishing a regular practice:

1. Improved flexibility

It takes a surprisingly short amount of time to notice a vast improvement in your flexibility once you start practicing yoga. Touching your toes may seem like an impossibility today, but that doesn’t mean it’s not an inevitability. This flexibility will in turn go a long way to alleviating pains that arise from tight joints and muscle tension.

2. Build Muscle

Yoga combines muscle building with flexibility which leads to strong, toned muscles (which look beautiful) coupled with the health benefits of having stronger muscles. such as better protection against ailments like arthritis and back pain.

3. Better Posture

There’s something commanding about a good posture, and yoga can help you get one. Aside from the aesthetics, though, an improved posture may very well lead to improved health all round. A bad posture can, for instance, cause that feeling of constant fatigue. Improving your posture can also help with muscle and joint pain.

I think we probably all have our little ways of coping when our slow-paced hearts butt heads with this fast-paced world, but personally I’m a huge fan of chamomile tea, lavender baths with real sprigs of lavender, and tHerbalife’s Tang Kuei. Some folks run marathons and lift heavy things and do many many squats. We all have an idea of what works for us, but sometimes we just need a little something extra.

Here are some simple ideas for you to try:

1.) Hit the pool

It’s summer time here in South Africa and summer should never go to waste. Slip into your bathing suit and take yourself off for a little float. Forget the manic race to improve your length time (or whatever) and just take a few moments to float. Face up. Eyes closed. Slow breathing. Doesn’t that sound fantastic?

A Swedish study published in the International Journal of Stress Management found that floating in water triggers the body’s relaxation response, helping lower stress-hormone levels. Even better, nearly 80 percent of the subjects showed improvements such as feeling less tense and depressed. ~ Shape

2. Listen to music

One thing we all got right as teenagers was the fact that music does wonders for that happiness thing that we’re all chasing. Remember back in the days when you weren’t able to go a day without listening to your favourite tunes? Go back there! Listen to music that uplifts you. Listen to music that makes you want to dance. Listen to music that makes you want to sing. And crank up that volume!

3. Cuddle your pet

Studies show that stroking an animal helps to significantly lower tension. It seems like such an insignificant act, but from personal experience I would have to admit that there has been a huge increase in my own personal happiness since I invited a couple of rescue animals to live in my home. (Just remember: when it comes to pets ADOPT DON’T SHOP!)

Do you have an simple stress relieving techniques that you would like to share?

Ah, Sleep! There’s nothing quite like a good deep sleep to leave you feeling refreshed and ready to start your day. As little as two consecutive nights of bad sleep can leave you feeling groggy and irritable, but good sleep has far more benefits than the otherwise obvious. Sure, a good night’s sleep sets you up for a less grumpy day, and it might help keep those pesky bags-under-the-eye at bay, but good sleep is also worth so much more.

Here are just a few reasons for you to consider a slightly earlier bedtime:

Healthy Brain Function

A good night’s sleep goes a long way to keeping your brain functioning at optimum levels. Sleep prepares you mentally to face the next day and ultimately allows you the capacity to make decisions, solve problems, and cope with change.

Emotional Wellbeing

Lack of sleep can lead to various mental ailments such as stress and depression. Bad sleeping patterns can also lead to difficulty with focus and concentration, which can in turn lead to struggles that ultimately lead to stress and more lack of sleep. Staying out of this vicious cycle is exceptionally important to your sunny disposition.

Physical Health

You body performs all sorts of healing functions while you sleep. The heart and blood vessels especially benefit from a good night’s sleep, lowering your risk of heart disease and high blood pressure.

Immune System

Good sleep plays a vital role in the way your immune system works. Compromised sleep may result in your immune systems response going off kilter, which will lead to your body struggle to fight off even the simplest of colds.

Appetite & Obesity

A good night’s sleep helps to maintain the balance between hunger and satiation hormones. Bad sleeping patterns may cause you to feel unnecessarily hungry all the time. Regular lack of sleep is also known to increase the risk of obesity.

Have made a crustless quiche in preparation for a new 5 Day Challenge that I’m doing with @justellabella and friends for some #couplegoals fun. About 15g of protein per serving if I didn’t mess my calculations up… #lifestylewellnesshub (at Lifestyle Wellness Hub)

Our Delivery Boy is almost smaller than the delivery… #fivedaychallenge #fallinlovewithyourbreakfast #lifestylewellnesshub

This snack is hardcore… #fivedaychallenge #lifestylewellnesshub

Ag look at these Herbachickens 💚 I love listening to them chatter away, sharing their stories and their wisdom with each other 💙 #lifestylewellnesshub

The first Rink Street Wellness Club meeting of the year and the cellphones are patiently waiting in a pile. Have you ever seen a Hebalifer without their phone? #health #wellness #newyear #herbalife #lifestylewellnesshub (at Lifestyle Wellness Hub)